Filing-box cabinet.



- No. 646,|9l. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

n. w. POPE.

FILING BOX CABINET.

' (Application filed Feb. 11, 18 99.)

(No Modal.)

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. h I I I ATTORNEY I WITNESSES U D STATEST PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH w. POPE, or ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

FILING-BOX CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,191, dated March 27, 1900. Application filed February 11, 1899. Serial No. 705,247. (No model.)

desired number of them may be employed to form a filing-case having any desired number of subdivisions. Each of the sections of which my file-case is constructed is separately provided with means for automatically holding the hinged front end or door closed or open, said means being so contrived that the sections or boxes may be arranged in any combination without interfering with the operation of the adjoining ones.

The units of which each file-cabinet is composed should all be alike, but may assume any desired form as to length,height,or width.

I have illustrated my invention in connection with a well-known construction of filebox, since the invention is so readily applicable thereto, as will appear in the following description and be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of two groups of sections assembled to form a filing-case. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one of the boxes. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the adjoining edges of two of the boxes.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, A is a filing-case comprising two groups of unit sections or boxes B G D E F G H I, each one similar to the box shown separately in Fig. 2 and arranged together in a case or cabinet A. The boxes, as B, are constructed with a hinged door I) and have sides 0 d and top and bottom e f, secured together to form a box having a suitable back 9. The door I) is hinged to the front edge of the top 6 with any desirable form of hinge h and when lowered closes the box to exclude dust, and said door I) should upon its outer side be provided with a suitable label or label-holder and a knob or projection l). The door Z) is controlled by a spring which is arranged to hold it in either its open or closed position. For this purpose I prefer ahelical metallic spring j, since the form thereof permits it to readily pass over any small obstructions, and properly-tempered metal is exceedingly durable for this purpose. A single spring j, attached to one end of the door (2 and connected with the side cl of the box, is all sufficient for the purpose. In order to provide for freedom of operation of the spring j, the boxes are separated at the side bearing the spring from the adjoin ing boxes, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, bya plurality of projections which extend from the side d of the box and into contact with the side of the adjoining box or body, and While these projections maybe variously constructed a small number of round-headed tacks will answer the purpose extremely .well

and have'the further advantage that they are not liable to catch insurrounding objects;

nor do they present an unsightly appearance, and, furthermore, are very easily applied. These projections are indicated at K L, respectively adjacent to the front and rear of the side piece 02 of the box, the tack K being placed so as to form the rear point of attachment .of the spring j, which may be at tached to the door of the box by a similar tack a. While two projections will answer the purpose, I prefer to employ four, the additional ones being indicated at Z. The space between the boxes due to the separating devices is in excess of the diameter of the sprin g j, which is thereby cleared and enabled to move freely as the door I) is open or shut. The exterior casing is a simple frame work to contain the sections of my improved file-cabinet, and it can be made in avariety of sizes to hold desired combinations of boxes,

which can be arranged therein on their flat sides or their edges, as preferred.

The practical advantages of my improved file-case are that, being composed of individual sections, each complete in-itself, it may be made larger or smaller, as desired, and the sections may bearranged in any desired relation, since the exterior casing being of simple construction may be readily reconstructed to suitable dimensions or entirely replaced by one of proper size to conform to a new arrangement of the boxes, which the1nselves remain stationary when arranged and in use. Furthermore, in use all that is necessary is to raise the door b, which will be retained in its open position by springj, giving notice that the box is open, and remaining so until closed by another movement, at the same time leaving both hands of the user free, not even requiring the detachment of any moving devices prior to their opening or closing.

If preferred, the several sections of the case may be inverted, so as to open downwardly, or placed on edge and opened sidewise; but I prefer the arrangement shown, as it excludes the dust more perfectly.

It will be apparent that the construction may be modified in some respects in view of the foregoing without departing from the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Lctters Patent, is-

1. A filing-box provided with a front end door entirely closing the box and hinged on one edge, a helical spring attached to the box and to said door, and projections extending a from the side of the box adjacent to the spring to a greater distance than the diameter of the spring and adapted to clear the spring so that it may move freely when said projections are in contact with an adjoining body.

2. A filing-case comprising a plurality of stationary sections, each section or box having a hinged door entirely closing the front end of the box and a helical metallic spring attached to the door and to the side of the box and projections extending from said side of each box extending beyond the spring and adapted to free the spring when the projections are in contact with an adjoining box or body, and a case or frame inclosing and holding the sections comprising the filingcase.

Signed by me at New York, N. Y., this 10th day of February, 1899.

RATIPII \V. POPE.

\Vitnesses:

, J. KENNEDY,

FRANKLAND J ANNUS. 

